D.A. and his 46 assistants sworn in for another term

Staten Island Advance/Anthony DePrimoRep. Michael Grimm, at left, administers the oath of office to Richmond County District Attorney Daniel Donovan.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — District Attorney Daniel Donovan and his 46 assistant district attorneys were sworn in yesterday for another term, with Donovan lauding his staff for its professionalism and dedication to keeping Staten Island safe.

“I have been bragging about you for two years,” said Donovan, alluding to his run last fall for re-election and unsuccessful bid for state attorney general in 2010. “We lead the city in conviction rates. ... We are the safest community of similar size in all of America. ... You helped make it that way and keep it that way. ... I am so proud of what you have done. ... I wanted to publicly thank you.”

Rep. Michael Grimm did the honors, swearing in Donovan in a ceremonial oath-taking — Donovan was sworn in for a third term Dec. 30 — and officially swearing in the prosecutors in the central jury room in St. George.

Grimm, in turn, hailed Donovan and his “team” for their work ethic of “honor, integrity, competence, motivation and determination to make a difference.”

“Nothing is more important than keeping our family and friends safe and out of harm’s way,” added Grimm, a former FBI undercover agent.

Donovan and Grimm, both Republicans, have teamed to address the prescription drug abuse epidemic here, hashing out federal legislation that Grimm is now advancing that would create a national registry of those who use controlled substances.

Grimm said afterward that work on the bill continues, with attention to privacy issues now being addressed.

Donovan told the Advance he plans to lobby members of Congress about the Grimm bill when he is in Washington early next month for the National District Attorneys Association convention.

Donovan also said he’ll make a renewed push for state approval of his Domestic Violence Act, to criminalize domestic violence. While the measure has passed twice in the Republican-controlled state Senate, it has failed in the Democratic Assembly. But Donovan said he has enlisted the support of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, a Democrat, to help advance it among Assembly members.